Electrolytic device for generating pure oxygen and hydrogen.



R. MORITZ. ELECTROLYTIC. DEVICE FOR GENERATING PURE OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.17,-1909. 981,102,

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

m'l ness es UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

RENE Monrrz; 0F WASQUEH-AL, ERn vcE.

ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE FOR GENERATING PURE oxirenn AND HYDROGEN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RENE Monrrz, a citizen of the Republicof France, residing, at \Vasquehal, Nord, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Devices for Generating. Pure Oxygen and Hydrogen, of which the-following is a specification.

- in order that an electrolytic device for producing pure oxygen and hydrogen should e practical, it must be com late in itself, there must not be any possibi ity of oxygen leaking through into the hydrogen compartment and vice versa, even if a joint is not properly nade, owing to mistake or carelessness. It is also necessary that the apparatus should not get dirty, even if inadvertently water that is not absolutely clear-as is often the case with rain Watershouldbe used. Finally, for satisfying the present requirements of the industry, the apparatus m'ust deliver the gases ata high pressure, without the purity of the gases being affected thereby. The apparatus according to this invention is designed so as to fulfil the above conditions.

In the drawing, Figure l is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 4: is a sectional view through two of the electrodes. Fig. 5 is an elevation of an electrode. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, partly broken away, of the electrode 'seen in Fig. 5.

It comprises electrodes in series, for instance of the type described under the name of cathodes in the French Patent No. 289082 of Eycken, Leroy and Moritz of the 17th May, 1899, Fig. 6, but it is necessary to take special precautions for preventing oxygen produced at one side of the electrode, from becoming mixed, even in a very small quantity, with the hydrogen produced at the other side. To that end, they are provided at the top with two lugs 1 1, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, cast together with the remainder of the electrode. Each of the said lugs is provided with conduits 2 and 3. The conduit 2 is in connection with one side of the electrode Specification of Letters Patent.

through a small passage 4; and the conduit 3 with the other side. At the bottom of the electrode, a third lug 5 is provided with a channel 6 connnunicatin with both sides of ,5

of diaphragms 7 (all of asbestos composition) and ofanother'part having the rectangular or squareshape of. the electrode and by inserting at the point of the conduit or canal elements in the lugs, rubber washers 8 held in place in the recess 9, a seriesof tight cells will be obtained forming the'electrolytic device proper, and three conduits'or passages I will-be obtained in communication: the conduits2 for hydrogen and the electrolyte on the negative face of the electrode, the conduits 3 for oxygen and the electrolyte on the positive face of the electrode, and the channcls 6 for electrolyte for both sides of the electrode. The reason 'why the canals 0r conduits in question are not made simply in the form of holes in the rectangular portionof the plate, is that with such an arrangement hydrogen would pass easily into the oxygen and vice versa owing to a bad inner joint, without it being possible to detect it from the outside.

WVith the arrangement described, if there is a leak, it can only be a leak of oxygen or hydrogen direct into the atmosphere. It

will be seen in fact, at 10, thatthe. outer. edge i of the diaphragm does not touch the rubber washers. In that way all impurity of the gases is avoided, and leaks outward are always visible, for thev are accompanied by liquid electrolyte which circulates at the 0 same time as the gases. 7

. In order to prevent solid impurities from A collecting between the electrodes and the diaphragms, the-first head electrode ishollow and constitutes a tank of large dimensions at the bottom of which-sediments can settle at 11. This tank Figs. ;1 and 3, is at the same time used as a separator of oxygen and hydrogen. To that end, an airtight partition 12, preferably double, divides it 1,00

into two parts at the top. In that way a large double vessel is obtained, two branches Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed September 1v, 1909. Serial No, siaieeRElssUED at a high'pressure, that. a device should be used reventing the gases from beinggencrate one. more quickly-than the other. To that end, in'each" of the two compartments is farrangeda float 14 which partly dips ;into1the liquidLand partly "into the gas.

Jlhese floats are secured each to a rod 16 connected together at the bottom by-a pi'votedbeam arranged in the line of the partitionlQ; The said rodszare provided at. the top with balanced tubular or other valves 17'. adjustable outside at- 18, Fig; 2.

When owing to a diflerence in pressure between the two compartments, the liquid has the :tendency to descend at one side in order 2 to rise at the other, the floats follow the .inov ement of the liquid, and the valve also. .I-f, therefore, the pressure inthe right hand branch-becomes greater than that in the left ,hand brancln-the liquid sinks at the right hand side-and risesat the left hand side carrying the floats, the right hand-side valve opens, and a great quantity'of gas ,is generated, and thevalve on the left hand side is closed and littlegas is generated. By suitably regulating these valves, it is possible ,to obtain any desired pressure in the two reservoirs which can supply the apparatus utilizing high ressure' as,-while the gases passingthroug the va ves would be c0n- 140 veyed to the apparatus utilizing-low pressure gas. The level of the liquids 19 being always the same in the two reservoirs commumcating at. the bottom, the pressure on the two sides of the diagrams is the same, and the gases cannot filter through the diatrode.

hragm and, therefore, they remain perectly pure.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is 1. In electrolytic apparatus an electrode providedat the-top with extensionshaving each a conduit, and passages plac ng the conduits in the said extensions in communication 'w,ith opposite sides of the electrode, and the electrode also having at the bottom an extension provided with a channel in communication with both sides of theelec- 2. In electrolytic apparatus, electrodes,

extensions on said electrodes provided with ,holes adapted to form canals when the extensions are joined together, means for o1n-,

ing together the extensions independently of the joint between'theelectrodes, a settling tank containing the electrolyte for the electrodes, and means for draining off impurities from said tankfi In electrolytic apparatus, electrodes,

extensions on said electrodes provided with holes. adapted to form canals when the extensions are joined together, means for connecting one canal to one side of each of the electrodes and another canal to the other .sidepf each of the electrodes respectively, a settling tank containing electrolyte, a partition in said tank adapted to divide it into two compartments, means to connect each of the-electrode-extension-canals to one of ,the compartments, a relief valve and a float in each compartment and means for connecting the valves with the floats for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RENE MORITZ.

Witnessesz Roam Saucer, CHARLES Lnrnnnnvnn. 

